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CRGSS REFERENCE
July 31, 1962
ERCH 366%?
3,047,796
J. BENNETT ETAL
BORE HOLE LOGGING METHODS AND APPARATUS
Filed NOV. 13, 1958
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July 31, 1962
J. BENNETT ETAL
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3,047,796
BORE HOLE LOGGING METHODS AND APPARATUS
Filed Nov. 15, 1958
4 Sheets-Sheet 2
1min:
FIG. 3.
INVENTORS
JOHN D. BENNETT Bu
FR ED
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M . MAY ES
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ATTORNEYS
July 31, 1962
J. BENNETT ETAL
3,047,796
BORE HOLE LOGGING METHODS AND APPARATUS
Filed Nov. 15, 1958
4 Sheets-Sheet 3
FIG. 4.
INVENTORS
JOHN D. BENNETT 8n
FRED M. MAYES
_ATTO RNEYS
July 31, 1962
J. BENNETT ETAL
3,047,796
BORE HOLE LOGGING METHODS AND APPARATUS’
Filed Nov. 15, 1958
4 Sheets-Sheet 4
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United States atent Q Nice
3,047,796
Patented July 31, 1962
2
1
Since, in accordance with the disclosure of said Mayes
3,047,796
and Jones application, a record is made in a self-con
BORE HOLE LOGGING METHODS
AND APPARATUS
John Bennett and Fred M. Mayes, Richardson, Tex., as
signors to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a cor
tained assembly lowered to the vicinity of the bit, it is
necessary to raise and open the assembly and play back
the record made in order to secure the logging informa
tion obtained. As will be evident, in the case of each
alternative type of operation referred to in said prior
application there is some delay involved in securing the
logging information, whether the apparatus has been
poration of New Jersey
Filed Nov. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 773,653
8 Claims. (Cl. 324-10)
This invention relates to bore hole logging methods 10 lowered in go-devil fashion and recovered by an over
and apparatus and particularly to methods which involve
shot or by the raising of the drill .stem, ‘or whether the
the location of recording apparatus within a hole.
recording apparatus has been lowered on a wire line,
Conventional methods of well logging, whether of
which latter operation inherently involves a further limi
electrical or other types, involve the absence of the drill
tation on the length of the bore hole which may be
stem during the logging operation. This has two serious
logged in a single operation because of the limited travel
drawbacks in that not only must special time be con
which may be imparted to the drill stern without dis
assembly.
surned in running the well log, during which time the
drill stern must be ‘out of the hole, but after a period of
It is the general object of the present invention to
drilling, due to the fact that the drill stem must be re
provide logging methods and apparatus whereby record
‘nioved, there is inevitably a delay before the new part 20 ing may be accomplished at the surface consistently with
of the hole may be logged, during which delay there
occurs invasion of the formation by drilling liquid. Since
the drilling liquid has physical properties of its own, it
may, by penetration of porous layers, greatlyjchange
avoidance of delay ‘of logging at the termination of
drilling and avoidance of time delay in securing informa
tion involved in the logging of an extensive length of
the bore hole. Brie?y, in accordance with the invention
their properties so as to interfere with their detection. 25 an electrode assembly, with or without a modulating or
For example, in the case. of electrical logging, the con~
other translating unit is lowered through the drill stem
ductivity of the liquid will effect changes in the apparent
upon the cessation of drilling, the drill bit being su?’i
ciently raised to accommodate the projection of a log
ging wand below the bit. The lowering is accomplished
conductivity of the formation; and in the case of acoustic
logging the absorption and velocity of sound will be
changed, etc.
Proposals have been made to effect electrical logging
30 by means of a cable containing one or more conductors
and electrically connected to suitable recording means
by using the drill bit or one or more other parts of the
drill stem as logging electrodes. In line with this it has
been proposed to supply special drill stem tubing con
at the surface, which recording means may produce
simultaneously with the logging a visible record which
taining one or more conductors which are electrically
logging progress may be achieved by the raising of the
drill stem. In accordance with the invention the linear
connected in the assembly of the drill stem and extend
to recording apparatus at the surface. The use of such
an arrangement has been found to be impractical because
of high cost and wear.
Proposals have also been made to support one or 40
more electrodes on wire lines to be dropped below a core
bit into the lower portion of a hole from which the bit
has [been raised. This procedure has also proved im
practical not only because special handling has been re
quired at the surface, but particularly because core bits
are not ‘generally desired for the major drilling activities
but are used only for special purposes.
The application of Fred M. Mayes and lack Weir
Jones,‘ Serial No. 683,027, ?led September 10, 1957, dis
may be observed during the logging operation.
The
extent of logging is not limited by the height of the
derrick, but successive stands of the drill stem may be
removed without complete withdrawal of the cable and
the logging apparatus from the hole. If the log shows
some indication of interest, more detailed logging may
be ‘accomplished, ‘or other testing apparatus lowered, or
drilling resumed without the complete removal of the
drill stem. As will appear hereafter, several alternatives
of manipulation may be utilized to effect the desired
results.
The attainment of the foregoing general object and
of other objects of the invention particularly relating to
details of manipulation and ‘apparatus will become ap
closes logging methods and apparatus which may be used 50 parent from the following description, read in conjunc
tion with the accompanying drawings, in which:
when the drill string is in a bore hole and may be used
FIGURE 1 is a sectional view illustrating the lower
at any time with a minimum of interruption in drilling.
end of a drill stem, including a jet bit, and the logging
In brief, in accordance with said disclosure, a self-con
assembly in its approach to the position of the bit;
tained energizing and recording apparatus may be
dropped through a drill string in go_devil fashion or may 55 FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section, showing a
typical electrode assembly which may be used;
be pumped down therethrough when the drill string has
FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic elevation, partly in sec
been lifted to only a limited extent from the bottom of
tion, showing certain parts of the apparatus involved in a
the 'hole to provide a region for reception of an electrode
preferred application of the invention;
assembly or other logging assemblies. Provision is par
FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 but showing
ticularly made in accordance with said disclosure to pro 60
an alternative embodiment of the invention;
vide an assembly of a type suitable to pass through the
FIGURE 5 is a sectional view showing means for
mud ?ow openings of a jet bit which may be of any of
effecting packing of a cable which includes connectors of
the ‘conventional popular types. Such bits are presently
larger diameter than the cable; and
widely used since they effect the carrying away of cut
FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing an alternative
tings and avoid their reworking by the drill. These jet 65 packing
means.
openings are generally at relatively small angles with
Referring ?rst to FIGURE 1, there is indicated at 2 the
respect to the drill stem axis and a ?exible assembly may,
accordingly, be projected therethrough to extend beyond
lower end of a drill stern which may be considered to be
located in the newly drilled portion of a hole, the drill
the ‘bit. For electrical logging the assembly is an elec 70 stern having attached to it through the drill collar 4 a jet
trode assembly; for acoustic or other logging it may be
bit 5 which is illustrated as of the multiple cone rock type
of suitable type for exposure to the walls of a hole.
though it will be evident that in accordance with the
spar/nae
Al.
It comprises a nose portion 14 which is of metal and con~
\stitutes an electrode, which electrode, depending on the
electrical con?guration use, may be either a current elec
invention any desired type of bit may be used providing
that it has either jet passages, a central passage of the
type involved in core bits, or a passage bypassing the bit
and through which a logging wand may be extended.
trode or a potential electrode. Consistent with the use of
Under the conditions existing prior to the beginning of
the wand in the fashion illustrated in FIGURE 1, the nose
has secured thereto a ball 15 which may be of rubber
logging, the drill stem will have been raised to an extent
or other suitable abrasion-resisting material. Threaded
to permit an electrode assembly to project below the bit
into the nose 14' is a tubular insulator 11.6 which is provided
free of engagement with the bottom of the hole.
with a threaded stem to which is secured the lower end of
The bit 5 is provided with the usual jet openings 6 which
are usually lined by abrasion-resistant tubes 7. For pres 10 a tightly wound helical spring 1'7. Such a spring provides
ent purposes, the lining of one of the holes is provided by
high resistance to direct end thrust, but at the same time
provides su?icient ?exibility for bending of the wand as
a tube 8 which extends upwardly to open at 9 in the
fashion of a funnel for the reception of the electrode
it passes through a jet opening or must thereafter de?ect
assembly. During the progress of drilling, the mud passes
through the tube 8 and through the other openings lined
with the tubes 7, reaching the latter through the annular
to extend downwardly along the wall of a. bore hole. As
will become evident a series of springs such as 17 provide
the major body of the wand, there being interspersed in
clearance 10' which is of such cross-section as to provide
sulated electrodes.
The upper end of the spring 17 is
the proper and approximately equal distribution of mud
to the jet holes. Generally the total number of jet holes
threaded to the lower end of a tubular insulator 18 on
which is mounted a metallic electrode tube 19, the tube
is equal to the number of cones of a cone type rock bit, 20 being con?ned ‘between an insulating washer 2t) and a
there are two such openings in the case of a ?sh-tail bit,
?ange 21 forming part of the tube 18. The spring 17
etc.
which connects the insulating members 16 and 18 is
There is indicated at 11 an assembly which may or
covered by a ?exible insulating tube 22 Which may be
may not be used depending upon the information-trans
mitting system which may be desired. If it is considered
of rubber or ?exible plastic. The type of construction just
described is then essentially repeated, there being threaded
desirable to use a cable having a suf?cient number of
to the upper end of member llfi another spring 22 which
conductors to connect directly to the logging elements
is threaded at its upper end to a further tubular insulator
such as electrodes, the connections may be direct. More
23, the spring being covered by the ?exible insulating tube
conveniently, however, and less expensive is the use of a
2d of rubber or plastic. The tube 23 supports between its
cable having only one or a small number of conductors, 30 ?ange and a Washer 26 another tubular electrode 25. In
in which case the assembly indicated at 11 may be used.
further continuation upwardly, there is another spring 27
In such case, the assembly, which in itself forms no part
surrounded by a ?exible insulating covering 28. The con
of the present invention and may be of numerous types
struction may be repeated to provide as many electrodes
Well known in the art, may comprise a generator of a
as desired in the required positions thereof. Finally the
suitable plurality of high frequency carriers together with
35
assembly is terminated by the arrangement involving the
modulating means for individually modulating these car
riers by the desired signals, such as potentials, which are
spring 3b (which may be the same as spring 27 or differ
ent) covered by the insulating tube 29. The upper end
picked up by electrodes or produced by other logging ap
of spring 30 is threaded to the insulating tube 31 on which
paratus. The various modulated frequencies may then
there are mounted a suitable number of collector rings
40
be transmitted to the surface from the assembly 111 over
such as 32 and 33 insulated from each other by insulating
a single conductor and separated by suitable ?ltering means
washers such as 34 and 35. To the top of the member 31
in the recording apparatus at the surface. The modulation
there is threaded the metallic member 36 which is ar
involved may be of any of numerous types such as ampli
ranged to be secured as indicated at 37 in a lug contained
tude modulation, frequency modulation, pulse modulation,
within the adapter 12. An insulated wire 38 connects
of the like. The same conductor, or another conductor,
the member 36 to the nose electrode 14, while insulated
may be used to supply power, currents introduced into the
wires such as 39 and 40 connect the individual collector
earth through one or more electrodes, or the like. It is
rings to the electrodes such as 19 ‘and 25.
also possible to include in the assembly llil power supply
The electrodes may be of lead or other suitable metal,
means by way of batteries for these same purposes. These
depending upon the particular electrical system employed.
various expedients are well known in the art, and from the
In the case of an electrode employed for pickup for self
standpoint of the present invention, it may be considered
potential, the electrode may desirably be of the same
that transmitted from the logging assembly 11 are signals
metal as the drill stem furnishing a reference so as to
which may be analyzed or demodulated at the surface to
minimize any direct potential differences due to the use
recover the logging information desired. If the assembly
of different materials.
at 11 is omitted, the transmission will be of potentials or
It will be evident from the ‘foregoing that there is pro
currents such as result from the presence of the logging
vided an assembly which, except for the limited regions
assembly in an open hole region below the bit.
at the electrodes, is ?exible and yet has su?icient stiffness
When an assembly 11 is used, it will be furnished with
and
resistance to compression so that friction may be over
a protective casing capable of withstanding the mud pres
come during lowering in the bore hole to the end that
sures encountered. The protective casing has extending
the wand will extend along the hole and not tend to buckle
downwardly from its lower end, supported by an adapter
upon itself. Any desired number of electrodes ?ush with
12, an electrode assembly 13 which will be hereafter
the outer surface of the wand may be provided and located
referred to as a wand, inasmuch as it is, as a rule, ?exible
where
desiged for the particular con?guration involved.
though with sufficient rigidity so that it may be forced 65
It may be noted that the electrodes shown, though they
downwardly along the wall of a hole without buckling so
are individually in?exible, are of such short lengths that,
as [?nally to extend substantially parallel to the axis of
from the standpoint of the sinuous path that the wand
the hole. Depending upon the particular electrode con~
may be required to follow through a jet bit passage and
?guration which is desired, the wand may be either rela
tively short or quite long, being in the latter case upwards 70 then along the wall of a hole, the wand as a whole is
?exible, though stiff. Other su?iciently short sections of
of twenty feet in length.
the Wand may be in?exible, if desired, with only short
The wand construction is illustrated in detail in FIG
?exible joint portions between them. The wand, never
URE 2 in which portions which may be of great length
theless, will, as a whole, be resistant to buckling so that
are shown broken, the breaks also indicating in some
cases repetitions of sections as will be apparent hereafter. 75 it will extend generally lengthwise of a hole.
3,047,796
5
6
Surrounding the lower end of the wand as it is lowered
with the casing 11, there is a sleeve member 41 of metal
provided with a socket opening 42 for the reception of
the lower end of the casing 11. Restricted mud passage
grooves 43 are provided in the inner surface of member 41
they may be of conventional form arranged to provide
electrical continuity between the corresponding conductors
of the cable sections and to be locked together through
and communicate with restricted passages 44 at the bottom
bayonet or threaded means so as to sustain longitudinal
tension of the sections. Stands of the drill stem which
may be removed as units are indicated at 58, each of
these stands comprising usually a number of lengths of
the drill pipe. When removed from the drill stem these
through which the wand may slide, the wand initially
stands are supported in suitable racks 59 and 61 in the
supporting the member 41 by reason of the enlargement
provided by the ball 15. One of the functions of the 10 derrick. The cable sections 52 are desirably somewhat
longer in length than these individual stands, with the
member 41 is to serve as a weight and guide to maintain
result that when an upper coupling element 54 is retained
the wand 13 in substantially axial relationship with the
at the top of the uppermost drill stem section by a re
drill stem during lowering. Another is to provide shock
movable bifurcated holder such as indicated at 60 the
absorption to prevent damage to apparatus contained with
thereof. This bottom is provided with an opening 45
in housing 11. The member 41 is provided with a conical 15 portion of the cable therebelow involves slack accumu
lated in the lower sections of the drill stem and permitting
seat 46 arranged to be engaged by the conical lower end
the assembly 11 to rest in its proper position above the
47 of the casing 11. An annular ledge 48 within the drill
bit, with the wand ‘fully extended so that its position is
collar 4 is arranged to arrest downward movement of
always ascertainable from consideration of the number of
the member 41.
The assembly comprising the casing 11, the wand 13
and the member 41 is lowered through the drill stem on
a cable which, as will appear, may be sectional or con
tinuous, the member 41 ultimately engaging and being
arrested by the annular seat 48. Mud flow is desirably
maintained during the lowering, and for this purpose a
cable lubricator arrangement is provided at the surface as
hereafter described. Once seating at 48 occurs, mud flow
is restricted by con?nement of ?ow to openings 44- which
provide a cross-section substantially less than that provided
by the bit openings. Thus a shock absorbing action results.
The lower end of the wand is centralized by the member
41 so that in its continued downward movement the ball
15 enters the funnel portion 9 of the liner 8 to guide the
ball and then the wand therethrough, the wand ?exing
laterally for this passage and then again ?exing when it
encounters the wall of the bore hole, whereupon it there
after will move downwardly in contact with the wall.
The opening through the liner 8 is directed, as is usual,
drill stem sections in the hole. At the completion of a
length of logging by upward movement of the drill stem,
the stand of drill pipe to be removed will be above the
level of the slips 62 supported by the rotary table 64,
which slips may then grip the stand therebelow, FIG
URE 3 illustrates the condition immediately following the
release of the uppermost stand which is supported by the
clamp 66 ‘from the conventional supporting member 68.
At this time, there will have been released from the cable
section within this stand the cable section 52' immediately
preceding it which will form the part of the cable wound
on the reel 72. During the logging operation, the con
nected cable sections will have been supported over the
sheave 70'. Following the attainment of the conditions
illustrated in FIGURE 3, the coupling connection be
tween 54 and 56 below the lower end of the stand to be
removed will be opened, the cable section within this
stand being supported by a coupling holder 60. The stand
being removed may then be placed in the racks 59 and
61, and connection made between the coupling 56' at
between the cones of the bit so that ‘free downward pas
sage of the wand may occur. Finally, the lower end of 40 tached to the portion 52' of the cable mounted on the reel
the casing 11 enters the opening 42 of member 41 and
seating takes place ‘at 46.
The ‘foregoing lowering occurs with the bit su?iciently
raised from the bottom of the hole to permit the full
length of the wand to extend freely below the bit. When
seating has been accomplished, the wand and the elec
trodes thereon will occupy particular de?nite positions
with respect to the bit, so that their positions within the
bore hole will be known. Thereafter, logging is effected
by the raising of the ‘drill stem with notation of the times
at which the drill stem occupies various positions. The
upward motion of the drill stem during logging may be
uniform or intermittent, depending upon the length of
the hole which is to be logged. If the length to be logged
in a single operation is less than the free movement of
the drill stem within the derrick without involving removal
of sections, the logging may be continuous at a substan
tially uniform rate.
and the uppermost coupling 54 of the section remaining
in the drill stem. It may be noted that the portion of
the cable 52' wound on the reel 72 may be short provided
that the cable sections are removed with and remain in
their corresponding drill stem stands 58. However, these
lengths of cable may be individually removed and wound
on the reel 72. This latter is generally more desirable
since in the reassembly of the drill stem it would ordi
nanily be desirable to produce the assembly with the cable,
as a whole, removed, the cable being then introduced only
when logging was again to be effected. In the interest
of ‘speed of operation through the complete logging, how‘
ever, the sections may be temporarily retained within the
drill stem stands.
When the couplings are again connected, the logging
through the length of another stand may be resumed by
raising of the drill stem.
The operations just described may be repeated as many
times
as necessary for the logging of the desired length of
The present invention is particularly concerned with
the
hole,
records being kept of depth against time for
60
the possibility of logging, consistently with the use of a
correlation of the record with depth, time markings be
conductive cable, of ‘lengths of the bore hole involving
ing desirably provided on the record. The innermost end
the necessity for removal of one or more stands of the
of the cable is connected to slip rings on the shaft of the
reel 72 and brushes provide connections through a cable
One modi?cation 0f the invention for the accomplish
65 74 to the recording equipment 76. As has already been
ment of this will be made clear by particular reference
indicated, this recording equipment may provide a visual
to FIGURE 3. The cable which is generally designated
record, with or without a reproducable record, ‘for exam
as 50 is made up, at least through the portions which are
pic on magnetic tape, so that the logging information may
involved in the manipulations about to be described, of
be examined during the actual logging. The recording
sections 52 which are provided at their upper ends with
equipment will, of course, through the use of conven
coupling elements 54 and at their lower ends with cou
tional demodulating means transform the signals trans—
pling elements 56. As indicated in FIGURE 3, the upper
mitted on the cable to give the necessary graphs indica
coupling element of one cable section is adapted to be
tive of the properties of the ‘formations encountered by
secured to the lower coupling element of the one above
the logging assembly. This demodulating or other trans
it. These couplings need not be ‘described in detail since 75 lating means forms no part of the present invention and
drill stem.
3,04..7,796
7
should be made to maintain sealing while permitting the
hence need not be described in detail, being of conven
tional type involving, if there are various carriers of differ
ent frequencies, separation of the modulated carriers, de
passage of the connectors. FIGURE 5 shows an arrange
ment which may be used at the upper end of the drill stem
when only moderate pressures are involved desirable to
modulation, and recording of the original modulating
signals.
5
It will be evident from the foregoing that the objectives
of the invention are attained by what has just been de
scribed. In brief, immediately following the cessation of
drilling, the electrode or other logging assembly may be
force the electrode assembly out through the bit. Shown
in FIGURE 5 is a pipe section 98 which may be secured
to the upper end of the drill stem, this being surmounted
by a ring llllll‘ which clamps the ?ange 102 of a rubber
boot 1% which is constructed at 106 to engage tightly
run into the drill stem on the conducting cable to effect 10 the cable 1% so as to seal the upper end of the drill
stem against the pressure of mud delivered through a
lateral opening 111 to pump the apparatus downwardly.
raised to provide a suitable clearance above the bottom of
Such a rubber Kboot has su?icient elasticity to permit the
the hole. Logging may then immediately be carried out
passing of the connectors I14) which are of larger diam
as described, with concurrent observation of the results
eter than the cable.
at the surface, a suitable number of stands of the drill
projection of the wand below the bit, the bit being initially
pipe being removed to provide the required movement of
the logging apparatus for the logging operation desired.
A minimum of delay is involved in the opening of the
cable connections and removal of the stands. Finally,
when the desired logging has been accomplished, the en
tire remaining portion of the cable ‘may be withdrawn
and with it the assembly located during the logging in the
vicinity of the bit. If the bit is then to be withdrawn
the disassembly of the drill stem may then proceed in the
usual fashion and ?nally the entire cable length may be
made up by incorporation of those cable lengths which
may have been set aside in the removed stands in the
racks.
If the logging is to be carried out through a length
of ‘the hole greater than that corresponding to a single 30
stand of the drill stem but through a length corresponding
If higher pressures of mud are involved than could be
resisted by the arrangement just described, recourse may
be had to what is shown in FIGURE 6. In this case, an
assembly is provided to be ‘secured to the upper end of the
drill stem, which assembly comprises the lower section
112, having the mud inlet opening 114 and successive
threaded sections 116, 1118, 120 and v122 which clamp
?ange portions of rubber packing members 124 and 126
which provide central openings surrounded by annular
chambers 128 and 134). By vapplication of pressure to
these chambers they may hug the cable with any desired
pressure suf?cient to prevent mud leakage. By removal
of such pressures their flexibility is such that they will
yield to pass the cable connectors of larger diameter than
the cable.
Fluid (compressed ‘air or liquid under pressure) is ap
plied to the chambers I28 and 130 selectively through
to that of ‘a limited number of such stands, the some
connections I32 and 134 controlled by the respective
what simpler arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 may be
valves I36 and 138 of supply-and-waste type receiving
used, the cable in this case being continuous. In this
modi?ed procedure, the cable illustrated at 78 remains 35 the ?uid under pressure from a supply line 140. These
valves are controlled by levers and followers 142 and
threaded through the removed stands 80 in series, these
144 engageable by the cable and connectors. The ar
being arranged in sequence in the racks 82 ‘and 84 as
rangement is such that one or the other or both of the
removal takes place, the racks ‘being provided with sheaves
packing devices is under pressure at all times, but when
86 and 88 to permit free movements of the cable 78
a cable connector such as 146 is about to pass through
which is trained over a pulley 90 carried by the with
the upper packing member the applied pressure on this is
drawing assembly and is arranged to be wound on the
relieved so that it may pass therethrough into the cham
drum 92 electrically connected to the recording equip
ber between the packing members, the pressure being re
ment 94 which is the same as that previously referred to at
applied when passage has occurred, the other packing
76. The step by step procedure for removal of the stands
member remaining under pressure. Then, when the con
will be evident, the cable being released from and trained
over the sheaves 86, 88 and 90 ‘as required. Slack may
be given or taken up as necessary to prevent accumula
tion of excess cable in the stem or dislodgement of the
nector is about to pass the lower packing member the
pressure on the latter is relieved to permit passage. As
will be evident from the drawing, the necessary relief of
pressure in each instance may be e?ected automatically
detector assembly from its location at the bit by mani
pulations of the reel 92 as required during the disassembly 50 merely by {the position of a higher connector 148.
Of course, if connectors are used which have the same
of the drill stem stands. At the end of the logging opera
diameter as the cable such special provisions are not
tion the entire length of cable may be drawn through the
required and conventional cable lubricators may be used.
removed stands and from the bore hole with ?nal discon
It is also possible to avoid special packing, and to use con
nection therefrom of the casing at 11 and the wand.
At the beginning of a logging operation the logging ‘as 55 ventional lubricators, it‘ account is taken of the fact that
the mud pump need only run during the actual ejection
sembly may be rapidly lowered following the raising of
of the wand through or past the bit. Since this requires
the drill stem to provide the necessary clearance below
generally a movement of the order of 20 to 32 feet of
the bit.
cable, the length of cable provided and the location of a
It will be evident that this last modi?cation of the in
connector may be such that with a connector below the
vention permits logging through an exended length of the
conventional lubricator there will be su?icient length of
hole corresponding to the total length of a limited num
cable thereabove without interruption by another con
ber of stands of the drill stem, the number being limited
nector to permit the ejecting movement without the neces
only by the extent of provisions for reeving the cable
sity for having a connector pass the lubricator.
through the removed stands.
It will be evident that the invention may ‘be carried
Reference has been made above to the provision of 65
out with various changes in details of manipulation and
lubricators for passing the cables involved in accordance
apparatus used without departing from the invention as
with the foregoing descriptions. In the case of the modi
de?ned in the following claims.
?cation shown in FIGURE 4 no special type of lubrica
What is claimed is:
tor need be involved, and conventional cable lubricators
may be used for the purpose of sealing the entrance to
the drill stem when it is desired to pump the apparatus
1. A bore hole logging method comprising lowering
through connected sections of a sectional drill stem carry
ing a bit, a cable supporting detecting means, said cable
supported ‘by the cable down the hole.
However, when the modi?cation illustrated in FIG
being freely movable relatively to the drill stern sections
URE 3 is used which involves connectors of larger diam—
during said lowering, said lowering being carried out to
eter than the main portions of the cable special provisions 75 effect projection of said detecting means below the bit,
3,047,796
10
said detecting means during its lowering through the drill
stem, said cable comprising separable sections free of the
and effecting logging by raising of the drill stem and de
tecting means therewith while transmitting signals through
drill stem for movement relative thereto and having
said cable to the surface, said raising of the drill stern
involving removal of at least one section thereof while
the detecting means remains below the bit and connected
to at least a portion of the cable extending to the surface.
2. A bore hole logging method according to claim 1 in
which a portion of the cable is removed concurrently with
removal of said section of the drill stem.
lengths approximating lengths of removable sections of
the drill stem.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 comprising means
for supporting said sections of the cable within their cor
responding removed sections of the drill stem.
8. Apparatus for bore hole logging comprising detect
3. A bore hole logging method according to claim 1 10 ing means adapted to be lowered through a sectional
drill stem carrying ‘a bit and to pass through a bit and
in which the cable remains threaded through the removed
project therebelow, a signal transmitting cable for sup
‘section of the drill stern during its removal.
porting said detecting means during its lowering, means
4. A bore hole logging method according to claim 2
for supporting removed sections of said drill stern side by
With corresponding removed portions of the cable sup 15 side, and means for guiding said cable in a zig-zag path
ported therein.
through said supported removed sections.
5. A bore hole logging method according to claim 3
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
in which a plurality of drill stem sections are removed
and supported with the cable threaded through them in
UNITED STATES PATENTS
in which a plurality of drill stern sections are removed
series.
6. Apparatus ‘for bore hole logging comprising detect
ing means adapted to be lowered through a sectional drill
stern carrying a bit and to pass through a bit and project
therebelow, and a signal-transmitting cable for supporting
20
2,070,912
2,300,823
2,650,067
2,750,569
McDermott __________ .._ Feb. 16,
Whitman ______________ __ Nov. 3,
Martin ______________ __ Aug. 25,
Moon ______________ __ June 12,
1937
1942
1953
19576